Léon: The Professional is a 1994 action thriller starring Jean Reno as the title character, a French hitman living in New York who is forced to take in his young next door neighbor Matilda (Natalie Portman) after her family is killed by a rogue DEA agent (Gary Oldman). The film was directed by Luc Besson and was originally released in the US under the title The Professional, but has since been released on video under the title Leon: The Professional.

Pistols

Beretta 92FS (Custom Compensator)

The signature pistols of Léon (Jean Reno) are Beretta 92FS's fitted with compensators and, in some scenes, sound suppressors. A compensator reduces the rising of the barrel during rapid fire by redirecting propellant gases. We briefly see Mathilda (Natalie Portman) assembling Léon's Beretta 92FS pistols, although we never see her take a shot. The combination of a suppressor and compensator might be considered nonsensical - A suppressor is supposed to re-route and slow the release of pressurized gases from the muzzle in order to reduce the muzzle blast, while a recoil compensator functions by changing the vector at which the gases are released in order to reduce recoil. The problem is solved when it is revealed that one of Léon's suppressors has extended threads which clearly reach past the compensator ports when fitted. One of Léon's Berettas features a two-toned finish with a stainless frame.

Beretta 92FS fitted with AL-GI-MEC used by Léon in the film.

Close up on the Compensator.

Upper shot of Beretta at slide lock.

AL-GI-MEC Compensator by LA.RI.A, Italian Manufacturer. Note: This is not the modern SGS compensator.

Léon peaks through the peep-hole in his door while armed with his compensated Beretta 92FS.

Léon aims his Beretta 92FS through the door at an approaching thug.

Léon aims his suppressed Beretta 92FS at Mathilda (Natalie Portman) as she sleeps when considering killing her for discovering his profession.

Léon teaches Matilda about the mechanics of his Beretta 92FS.

Matilda attempts to re-assemble one of Léon's Berettas.

Léon sticks the suppressor in the mouth of the drug dealer (Robert LaSardo). He threatens that if he feels his mouth leave the muzzle, he'll fire, yet note how the safety is on, and remains on throughout the whole scene.

Léon shoots the drug dealer with his Beretta 92FS. Note how the muzzle flash doesn't emit through the compensator cuts due to the threads blocking them. Even so, we shouldn't be able to see such a large flash coming from the gun at all, since a real suppressor would significantly dampen it.

Léon shoots the tactical operatives with a brace of Beretta 92FS pistols while hanging from his door frame, one with a stainless frame. Obviously the amount of sit-ups he did throughout the film helped explain his ability to do this.

"He's here. It's the guy. He's got a gun to my head." Léon holds his stainless framed Beretta to the head of an NYPD ESU officer after he peeks around a corner. In actuality, a tactical team would use a modified mirror to peek around corners so instances like this wouldn't happen. Note how "AL-GI-MEC" can clearly be read on the compensator.

Léon fires his Beretta at tactical operatives through a hole in the wall.

SIG-Sauer P226

A SIG-Sauer P226 is used by Stansfield's 3rd man Benny (Keith A. Glascoe) as his duty weapon. It has some sort of laser aiming module mounted under the barrel.

SIG-Sauer P226 - 9x19mm

Stanfield's 3rd man Benny aims his SIG-Sauer P226 fitted with a laser. The actor who played Benny, Keith A. Glascoe, was also a real life NYC Firefighter. He died rescuing people from the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001.

Glock 17

Llama M-87

Mathilda takes along a Llama M-87 with extended controls (magazine release and safety lever) and a compensator, when she goes to kill Stansfield. The Llama M-87 is a competition version of the Llama M-82.

Smith & Wesson 659

Custom Springfield Armory M1911-A1

Mathilda's (Natalie Portman) pistol is a Springfield Armory M1911-A1 fitted with a compensator and loaded with simunition paintball rounds. She uses it to shoot a drug dealer during her first "hit", fitting it with a suppressor that cancels out the compensator like with Léon's Berettas. She brings it with her when she goes to the DEA building planning to kill Stansfield (Gary Oldman). It is assumed she has it loaded with live ammunition, since simunition would prove useless for killing. Stanfield's 1st man Willi Blood (Willi One Blood) refers to it as "Another Nine-Milley," slang for 9mm.

Springfield Armory M1911-A1 "Mil-Spec" - .45 ACP.

Mathilda takes out her Custom Springfield Armory M1911-A1 pistol, stored with a suppressor and two spare magazines in a velvet lined box, which looks inconspicuously like a lunch box when closed.

Mathilda loads an (empty) magazine into her M1911-A1 pistol. The crimp line running vertically on the magazine indicates it is a 9mm. Note Pachmayr grips.

Mathilda threads a suppressor on her M1911-A1.

Mathilda "kills" the drug dealer with two shots from her M1911-A1, loaded with simunition. Based on her grip, it appears Léon may have actually taught her a few things on gun handling.

Mathilda removes the suppressor from her M1911-A1 before putting it away.

Mathilda brings her pistol along with her on her assassination mission in the DEA building.

A Springfield Armory M1911-A2 SASS pistol on the right. The pistol is noticeably missing the magazine insert, which is used to replace the magazine and act as a barrel release lever. Obviously, this is an important part of the firearm!

Revolvers

Smith & Wesson Model 629 "Classic Hunter" Custom

Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman) keeps a Smith & Wesson Model 629 revolver with a 3" barrel and unfluted cylinder as his duty sidearm. Stansfield's Smith & Wesson Model 629 appears to be customized or at least a rare, non-catalogued special production run. The standard and/or limited production, short barreled 629s usually have slightly shorter ejector rods (while the gun in the film's ends at the barrel). The muzzle is nicely crowned, too. It's done in a manner uncommon on factory-standard Smith & Wesson revolvers (and limited production runs), which means it was likely a customized & shortened Smith & Wesson Model 629 "Classic Hunter". Unlike the standard model 629, the "Classic Hunter" variation was a special production run made in limited quantities in the late 1980's/early 1990's. It could be had in carbon blue steel and in stainless steel, came with an unfluted cylinder (standard production 629s feature fluted cylinders) and had either in 6-inch and 8 3/8-inch barrel length with the full underlug. Since the 629 "Classic Hunter" Stansfield packs isn't in factory configuration, we can assume it has been further customized and shortened, perhaps to make it more concealable and lighter to carry all-day like an oversized snub nose. The S&W product code is Production Code 103650. Only 3200 were produced in 1989. It had a Round Butt, 6 round UNFLUTED cylinder, Stainless Finish, and 3" Full Lug Barrel. Reference page 260 of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. The one Stansfield is carrying certainly looks like a custom shortened barrel Classic Hunter rather than this production model although the latter is very similar.

Standard Smith & Wesson Model 629 3" snub - .44 Magnum. Note the fluted cylinder and how the ejector shroud doesn't reach the end of the barrel like the model in the film.

Léon takes out his Smith & Wesson Model 586 and swings open the cylinder.

Léon runs a bore brush through the cylinders of his Smith & Wesson Model 586. Note how the gun has been fitted with Pachmyr Presentation grips.

Léon wields his Smith & Wesson Model 586 akimbo with his Beretta 92FS. It seems illogical to use an unsuppressed gun in partnership with a suppressed gun, when his obvious goal is to not draw attention.

Smith & Wesson Model 686

A henchman holds his Smith & Wesson Model 686, oblivious that his muzzle is flagging the man next to him.

Ruger SP101

Léon (Jean Reno) has a long-barreled Ruger SP101 in his case among his collection of weapons. He gives it to Mathilda (Natalie Portman) when telling her to leave and be a "cleaner" on her own, resulting in her walking to the window and emptying the gun (although she fires six shots when the revolver only holds five). Later in the film Matilda tries to see if Léon really cares about her, so she loads three chambers, leave two empty, and plays the very difficult version of Russian Roulette. Léon tells her he could hear that there was a bullet in the chamber (not likely), but she continues and nearly kills herself before he knocks the gun away.

Ruger SP101 Snub - .357 Magnum

A Ruger SP101 in Léon's gun case.

Léon gives Mathilda his Ruger SP101 when denying her his guidance in being a cleaner.

Mathilda unloads six shots from the five shot Ruger SP101 out of the apartment window. Note how she has to use two fingers to pull the trigger successfully. Still, her comparatively minute amount of flinching is impressive for a girl her age.

Mathilda loads rounds into her SP101. Note five chambers, debunking any arguments the gun is the six shot .32 H&R model.

Mathilda spins the cylinder after loading three rounds and leaving two chambers empty.

Even though Mathilda cocks that hammer before raising the gun to her head, we see the hammer down in the next shot.

Mathilda holds the SP101 to her head. Note how there are visibly no rounds in the cylinder.

Stansfield's 1st man Willi Blood sets Mathilda's Ruger SP101 down on the table, along with a box of ammunition, a magazine for the Smith & Wesson Model 41, and a Llama M-82 with extended controls (mag release and safety lever) and a compensator.

Submachine Guns

Kimel AP-9

Stansfield's 1st man, Willi Blood, (Willi One Blood) is armed with a Kimel AP-9 during the apartment raid. After hearing the shotgun blasts, he proceeds to fire all around the apartment until his weapon runs dry.

AA Arms/Kimel Industries AP-9 Pistol - 9x19mm

Every shot of the weapon shows a different position due to continuity error.

When Mathilda's brother runs out from under his bed, Stanfield's 1st man, Willi Blood, unloads his Kimel AP-9, firing it randomly about the apartment.

IMI Mini Uzi

The Fatman (Frank Senger) arms himself with a pair of IMI Mini Uzis after emptying his IMI Micro Uzi. He is held at knife point by Léon (Jean Reno) before he can use them. NYPD ESU officers at the end of the film are also seen armed with them.

The Fatman (Frank Senger) is informed to leave town while held at knife point by Léon.

NYPD ESU officers armed with Mini Uzis.

Skorpion SA Vz 82

A suppressed Skorpion SA Vz 82 is used by Stansfield's 2nd man, Neal, (Don Creech) during the apartment raid. It can be noted as the 9x18mm model Vz 82 by its straight magazine, unlike the curved magazine of the .32 ACP Skorpion SA Vz 61.

Spectre M4

A Spectre M4 is seen among the weapons in Léon's gun case. In the extended cut version, we see Léon cocking the weapon, as Léon recognizes the image based on the sound of a weapon cocking a drug dealer's apartment, which is not actually a Spectre M4 itself.

Spectre M4 - 9x19mm

A Spectre M4 is seen in Léon's gun case.

Léon pictures himself cocking his Spectre M4 when he hears a drug dealer chambering his weapon inside his apartment.

Shotguns

Ithaca 37

Two Ithaca 37 shotguns are first seen in the film at the Fatman's security cache. Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman) notably uses an Ithaca 37 with a tactical flashlight mounted on the pump forend, and fitted with a pistol grip while raiding Mathilda's (Natalie Portman) house. Malky (Peter Appel) also uses an Ithaca 37 with an extended magazine tube.

Ithaca Model 37 riot version - 12 Gauge

Two Ithaca 37s in the security cache, with a Remington 870 between them. Note the Holster for the Micro Uzi.

Ithaca Model 37 riot with pistol grip - 12 Gauge

Stansfield dances through Mathilda's house while playing Beethoven in his head, armed with an Ithaca 37 with a pistol grip and tactical flashlight.

Stansfield pumps his Ithaca 37 before killing Mathilda's Mother (Ellen Greene) in the bathtub. Notable is that even though he has previously fired the weapon, an empty shell doesn't eject when he pumps it.

Stansfield shoots Mathilda's Mother in the tub. In this scene, the pyrotechnics specialist had to sit in the tub first to show Ellen Greene that the squibs going off would be safe.

Ithaca 37 with extended magazine tube - 12 Gauge

Malky peaks into the apartment while armed with his extended magazine tub Ithaca 37.

Malky hugs the floor when Stansfield's 1st Man Willi Blood (Willi One Blood) begins erratically firing all around the apartment. Note how the stock is fitted with a spare shot shell holder.

Malky gets back up with his Ithaca 37 in hand.

Malky: What are you doing? He's dead!Stansfield: But he ruined my suit. Makly: Yeah, I know, but he's dead. He's a piece of meat. Calm down. Stansfield: I'm calm.

Remington 870

Mathilda's father (Michael Badalucco) pulls a Remington 870 Slug Gun shotgun on Stansfield (Gary Oldman) and shoots him in the shoulder during the attack on his apartment, as well as killing another henchmen with a shot to the back. (It is loaded with buckshot in the story, since despite being a slug gun, people are impacted by buckshot when shot by it). We also see a Remington 870 on the gun rack in the Fatman's house, and an NYPD ESU officer is seen wielding one during the final shootout.

Remington 870 Slug Gun - 12 Gauge

A Remington 870 is seen on the gun rack in the Fatman's house. Note the silver loading lifter.

Close up on the trigger guard of the Remington 870. Even though he's bad enough to leave a loaded shotgun poorly hidden in the house, at least he has the common sense to keep the safety on.

Mathilda's father holds his Remington 870 after using it to shoot Stansfield and one of his men. For whatever reason, he tosses the gun away after firing only two rounds.

An NYPD ESU officer armed with a Remington 870.

Another shot of an NYPD ESU officer with his Remington 870.

Rifles

SGW Multimatch AR-15

Léon requests a rifle from Tony (Danny Aiello) to train Mathilda (Natalie Portman) on her long range sniping exercise. Tony had one of his workers go into the freezer and pull out an SGW Multimatch AR-15 rifle. Mathilda uses the rifle (loaded with simunition paintball rounds) in her practice "hit" on the jogging politician (Denis Bellocq) in Central Park. Simunition is a trademark for training ammunition produced by General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada Inc. of Québec, Canada. Simunition encompasses many types of training rounds, the best-known being the FX Marking Cartridge, or paintball round.

Simunition rounds are designed to be used by police and military for training purposes. Most simunition cartridges require slight modification to the weapon to ensure that normal service rounds cannot be fired during training and to simulate full recoil with reduced-pressure/reduced-velocity rounds for more realistic training. In this case for a 5.56 simunition round to work all it would take is a bolt swap to allow this rifle to function with simunition rounds. The prop itself is a slightly modified SGW Multimatch AR-15 and it's very unlikely it actually fired the simunition in the actual movie although it is very possible that it could in real life. Simunition is used only for CQB training, as there is no way any paint round could reach the velocity to hit a target at the distance the movie claimed the hit was made at. Even though the politician was made to look very far the reticle image would prove that the politician was closer than 150 yards, well within the simunition maximum range of 200 yards.

The rifle is the old model SGW Multimatch before SGW turned into what is now known as Olympic Arms. With a 16" medium heavy weight barrel, shaved gas block, carbine length free floating aluminum handguard tube, and a Bell & Carlson AR-15 Thumbhole stock. It has blued 20-round magazines (the kind available in the early 1990s), a Harris Bipod, and a dummy short 'suppressor' for the end of the threaded barrel. The scope is a Burris with a 40mm objective lense, and sits on Weaver's tall see-through scope mount rings.

Mathilda pops open the lense cover, but Léon quickly closes it, informing her that a target could spot the sun's reflection on the bare lens.

Mathilda takes aim with the AR-15. At the last minute Léon tells her to hold her breath, when in reality exhaling is the best method. Exhaling relaxes muscles and reduces movement, while holding your breath strains muscles and causes shaking.

FPS view of the rifle's crosshairs as Matilda takes aim at a politician.

IMI Galil AR

One of the ESU officers in the first team that enters Léon's apartment is armed with a IMI Galil AR. Strangely enough, this rifle has a wood fore-end instead of the usual polymer, which is rare since they were only made of wood for a short time before being changed.

IMI Galil AR - 5.56x45mm

Armi-Jaeger AP-15 w/ Fake Grenade Launcher

The Armi-Jager AP-15 is seen in the hands of a few ESU officers after the big fight. This could presumably be the same fake grenade launcher in Besson's Nikita.

Armi-Jaeger AP-74

Armi-Jaeger AP-74 in the hands of an ESU officer, note three-prong flash-hider

Machine Guns

MAS AA-52

A heavily modified French MAS AA-52 GPMG with the carry handle removed, a tripod, a Russian PSO-1 scope and a variety of other tactical "junk" fitted is utilized by the NYPD ESU team to launch a grenade into Léon's apartment towards the end of the film. A belt-fed machine gun is an absurd weapon for an NYPD ESU team to be equipped with (especially if its sole purpose is just to launch a rifle grenade), and appears to have been used purely for visual effect. Note that the rifle grenade is not a fragmentation grenade, but rather a parachute flare (a civilian police unit would probably not have access to fragmentation grenades).

MAS AA-52 GPMG - 7.5x54mm French.

Note that the rifle grenade is not actually fitted to the AA-52's muzzle...

...instead it is fitted to one of the two added barrel-like structures in the positions normally occupied by the bipod legs.

Miscellaneous

Suppressors

Note the third suppressor from the right with its abnormally long threading to bypass the compensator on Leon's Beretta 92FS.

M67 Hand Grenade

Another M67 on an ESU's vest. I am fairly certain that is not an M67, but rather a Stingball grenade.

M18 Smoke Grenade

NYPD ESU officers use M18 smoke grenades during the end of the assault on the apartment. They are likely meant to stand in for tear gas grenades, however, for actor safety, standard smoke grenades were probably used.

M18 smoke grenade.

An NYPD ESU officer pulls the pin on an M18 smoke grenade.

You're supposed to hold down the spoon so this doesn't happen immediately in your hand.